I Cannot Figure It Out

A while back I started my gratitude list (see right column) to help me remember the good things in my life. At the time I created it I felt like I had become too negative and needed to be more grateful that my life is as good as it is, rather than constantly bemoaning the things I don't have or don't get to do or whatever. Concentrating more on the things you are grateful for seems like a simple solution to that problem, doesn't it? I have a lot of blessings in my life. I recognize a lot of them. It seems so simple.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try to pay attention to focusing on the positive, there are a lot of times that I fail at it miserably. This was pointed out to me this morning by my dear husband as I was sharing some things with him that I was unhappy about. My "glass half-empty" syndome, if you will. How that man manages to live with me and still wants to stay, I will never know. How is it that I can watch the news, see all of the people in this world that are struggling so much more than we are, and yet I feel somehow unsatisfied with my circumstances? Depending on the day these circumstances might be financial, familial, my too-small house, poorly behaved dogs, not enough money in my retirement account, or whatever. Am I really that ungrateful? Do any of you have a flaw of your own that just drives you crazy because no matter how hard you try you just can't seem to fix it?